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Riding "adventure" class on the Zimbabwe rails on the way to the
beer gardens of Bulawayo.
I've had a reputation for my frugal ways. That's not the reason I brew my own beer and it’s not the reason I just brewed my sixth 5-gallon batch of homebrew this year.
Of course you do save a lot of money if you make it yourself, but I assure you I have no shortage of beer; my own and that of others. I give more away than my wife and I can drink.
From the beginning the reason I brewed is because I brew beers that I can’t buy. My beers are very personal, reflecting my experiences and the tastes I have discovered in different parts of the world and want to have at home. It was true in 1970 when I brewed my first. It’s true today as I brewed the Czech-style dark lager I recall enjoying in Prague at the world’s oldest brewpub U Flecku – over 400 years running.
I grin when I read Maureen Ogle’s Part 5 of the History of the American Homebrewers Association. She says, “A more conservative person would have pulled the reins, and a less ambitious man would have given up and shut the doors. Papazian knew how to stretch a dollar — he was notorious among his friends for his frugal ways — and his grasp was exceeded only by his ambition.”
Maureen I’m sure you were kind in translating the various adjectives used to describe my “frugal ways.” I admit that people’s perceptions were legitimate. What we were being paid and with the lifestyle I chose to live at the time, there was no other way than to be exceedingly frugal. Cheap, tight fisted or as they say in Brazil, “mau de vaca,” the “hand of the cow” (which never opens) were valid – somewhat. Though the word cheap isn’t really accurate – never ever was the quality of what we did or tried to do cheap.
We were playing in the beer world at a level unheard of then or ever since. Up until then if you wanted to endeavor into the professional world of beer or access information as a homebrewer – it was outrageously expensive. We always said we strived to make beer and (home)brewing information accessible to everyone. Subconsciously we were trying to change the paradigm.
We set out to create and offer value with the information we presented. Often we asked experts to voluntarily present their knowledge for our members benefit. Value is often measured by how many people freely choose to “buy” into what is offered. It didn’t seem we were asking anyone to “trust us.” I’ve always viewed “selling” as a transaction of value for value. We always guaranteed services and refunded unsatisfied customers. We grew; it worked, though at a price of reputation that often rubbed some people the wrong way.
In the early/mid 1990s I attended an African professional brewers’ conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. One evening I sat amongst a small group of brewery owners who were enjoying the ubiquitous local lager, Castle Lager and smoking their cigars. I recall the CEO of Scottish & Newcastle asking of my name, “Papazian, isn’t that Armenian?” I replied that yes it was. He added, “So you’re Armenian; you must be rich and have a lot of money.”
All the others chuckled a bit and right then and there I grabbed a passing thought replying, “Being rich is not about having lots of money. Being rich is spending wisely whatever money you do have.” There was a short silence and then the CEO agreed. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and we all continued with our beers. I was offered a cigar.
After the conference I found myself rafting the Zambezi River, visiting the beer gardens of Bulawao, then canoeing and camping among hippos and crocs all on a very low and “adventurous” budget. I suppose I didn't understand the word "risk."
Also See
Relax don’t worry have a homebrew insights on history
Early history of American Homebrewers Association - introduction
Papazian lays his cards on the table
Papazian wanted to push Joy of Brewing to the next level
Daniel Bradford comes on as a hired gun
Spring boarding from the first Great American Beer Festival
Beer relevance - establishing a reason to exist
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